A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, initially bought for just £10, has been sold for a staggering £36,000 at auction. This valuable copy, unnoticed in a cupboard for decades, is now worth a fortune due to the book’s increasing cultural significance and limited availability.
How Much Did the Book Cost When It Was Bought?
In the 1990s, Christine McCulloch purchased a first-edition copy of J.K. Rowling’s groundbreaking novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone from a bookshop in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the time, she had no idea that the book she bought for just £10 would one day be worth tens of thousands of pounds.
“I remember we went in, bought it for £10,” McCulloch recalls. “Adam loved the book, and it started this sort of fascination, as with so many children worldwide now.”
Why Did the Family Not Realize the Book's Value Until Years Later?
The rare edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone remained hidden in the family home in Chesterfield, left in a cupboard under the stairs—much like Harry Potter himself in the book and film series. The McCulloch family only realized its potential value during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 after hearing stories about the worth of first-edition copies.
Now an adult, Adam McCulloch recalls when his family learned about the book’s value. “Once we got it verified, it was a bit of a pinch-yourself moment,” he said.
How Much Did the Book Sell for at Auction?
The first edition, one of only 500 hardback copies published in 1997, was sold on Wednesday at Rare Book Auctions in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The final price, including a buyer’s premium, reached £45,000 — a far cry from the £10 the McCullochs initially paid. The book had been valued between £30,000 and £50,000 before the sale, but the final auction price surpassed all expectations.
“The book was a true treasure,” said the auctioneers at Hansons Auctioneers, who facilitated the sale. “There’s a limited number of these copies, and with the growing popularity of Harry Potter, the demand for first editions like this one has skyrocketed.”
What Makes This Book So Special?
Despite its newfound worth, Adam McCulloch believes the book’s wear and tear only adds to its charm and magic. “In some ways, I think having that bit of a story around it, some tea stains there, and a folded-over corner here where someone’s enjoyed reading it – I think that adds to the magic,” he said.
The McCullochs now feel fulfilled in passing the book on for others to enjoy, sharing a magical history that has impacted generations worldwide.
How Does It Feel to Part With Such a Priceless Book?
For Christine McCulloch, parting with the book wasn’t a challenging decision. “We loved the story of Harry Potter, and we didn’t think anything of it then. We just bought it because Adam liked the book,” she explained. “It’s amazing to think of how much the story has grown since then.”
The sale of this first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone highlights the enduring legacy of J.K. Rowling’s creation and the unexpected treasures hidden in old bookshelves. What began as a simple purchase for her son in 1997 is now a piece of literary history worth a small fortune.
